Today we are going to try to clarify some points about compressed air guns.
To begin with, know that we work with leading brands such as GAMO, ASG or Umarex so quality is assured. These brands are located in Spain, Denmark and Germany respectively Luftpistol. They have both their own models and replicas of famous pistols from companies such as Colt , Beretta , Glock and Walther among others.
Okay, now to what we’ve come to. The question that everyone asks when purchasing a compressed air gun:
WHAT COMPRESSED AIR GUN TO BUY?
Well, here come several factors to take into account: Price, Materials, Speed, Type of propulsion, Type of Shot, etc. Let’s break down some of them:
PRICE
The power, materials, type of propulsion and realism among others are factors that determine the price of these guns.
MATERIALS
This point is usually closely related to the price of the gun. The materials used are normally plastic fibers (PVC, ABS, etc.) or metals (aluminum, steel, etc.). The model, as a general rule, will be cheaper if plastic fibers predominate. There are intermediate points where, for example, the slide is metal and the rest is plastic/rubber. If the guns are Full Metal , then the price will be higher.
SPEED
It is a determining factor when choosing your compressed air gun . The speeds of meters per second that the manufacturers attach are measured with a certain pellet. That is, not all pellets weigh or have the same air resistance, which is why measurements may vary. Manufacturers take advantage of this and often use pellets that give more m/s. Thus, they obtain higher exit velocities. By the way, many of you ask us if m/s is the distance that compressed air pistols and rifles reach. NO , that measurement is the speed that the pellet reaches from the moment it receives the propulsion until it exits the barrel.
PROPULSION
We work with four types of compressed air guns in this field. We have spring guns, pre-compressed air guns, co2 guns and pcp guns . We have few of the latter in our catalogue, although we plan to expand them.
Spring guns compress a spring that is released when the trigger is pulled, obtaining firing power. These pistols are usually single-shot , that is, we must load them manually with each shot. In addition, the spring causes a small vibration that alters the accuracy of the shot.
Pre-compressed air guns are manually loaded and single shot. Some incorporate a magazine in which to house pellets . This is done in order to not have to load pellet by pellet with each load. These guns compress the air using a pneumatic mechanism that prevents vibration when fired.
Co2 pistols can accommodate magazines with multiple pellets and do not require manual loading. These work using disposable 12-gram co2 capsules or cylinders. The cylinders provide the gun with about 40-50 shots. The only drawback is that if we run out of cylinders, we will be left without shooting. That is why it is important to be well supplied with them. Be careful, do not confuse CO2 cylinders for guns with cylinders for bicycles. Those for pistols are 12 gr without thread, and those for bicycles are threaded and 16 gr. You should also try not to rush the cylinders because it can cause clogging of the gun barrel.
PCP guns work with compressed air and this air is obtained by “injecting” it with a pump. The system is similar to co2 guns, but the advantage over these is that if the air runs out, you just have to pump again and we will have our gun ready and operational.
SHOT TYPE
The pellets have characteristics that make them different from each other. These characteristics can be, for example, weight, shape, caliber, material and the use to which they will be given.
- Weight is a characteristic to take into account . In a quick explanation, heavier pellets are more accurate but the drawback is that the range is shorter (gravity things ). Lighter pellets have the disadvantage that the air alters their precision .
- The shape of the shot is also an important characteristic. We are not going to go into mentioning all the existing forms but we can say that there are mainly two forms. Those with a glass or cup (with their countless variants) and those with a ball. In glass ones, we will have pointed, conical, flat, etc. pellets. In the ball type, there is a difference between the lead and the steel BB . The latter are fired by guns that indicate that they can do so. Guns that fire steel BBs will generally not be able to fire any other pellets. Although it is true that there are already models in which it is possible. In short, a lead ball in guns that only fire BBs will jam the barrel. BB balls inserted in guns other than BBs will fall out. This happens because the BBs are a bit smaller. Be careful with this, because confusion and therefore mess is common.
- The caliber is the size of the shot . In our catalog practically all the pistols are 4.5 caliber , although we have some 5.5 models. The 4.5 caliber is the one that works best in pistols, the muzzle velocity and range is greater. The 5.5 caliber , being larger, is also heavier and therefore loses speed and range. Note : The 4.5 caliber is also known as .177 caliber and the 5.5 caliber as .22 caliber.
- The material is becoming more diverse. Manufacturers are betting and putting increasingly sophisticated pellets on the market. Normally they have always been made of lead, but as you know, lead is a polluting metal . For this reason, manufacturers have been testing other less polluting metals, plastic fibers and ecological materials . The hardness of the material greatly influences the material, since the penetration of the shot depends on it.
- The use that is going to be given to the shot is important to know what type of shot is best for us. It is not the same to practice target shooting at one distance or another. Likewise, it is not the same about soft materials or harder materials. Depending on this, we will choose our pellet.
In relation to guns, there are different complementary items such as the pellets themselves, targets, and maintenance and cleaning items. We encourage you to take a look at them.